Lesbian adoption mooted

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Lesbians would be able to adopt their partner's child under a
system called "deemed adoption" if recommendations by the Victorian
Law Reform Commission are adopted.

In a move that could affect hundreds of same-sex couples, the
non-biological mother would for the first time be legally
recognised as the child's parent.

The commission recommended in an earlier position paper that
lesbians also be granted access to IVF and donor insemination. Now
they can have access to infertility treatment only if medically
infertile.

The deemed adoption would take effect from the child's birth for
children conceived through infertility treatments. It would apply
to a partner living with the biological mother. The adoptive parent
would be entitled to be registered as the parent on the birth
certificate.

The commission also recommended that adoption laws be expanded
to grant same-sex couples the same access to adoption as
heterosexual couples.

But commission chairwoman Marcia Neave said allowing non-birth
lesbians to adopt their partner's child was more significant.

"We're saying that she should be recognised as the parent of the
child if she was involved in the whole process," she said.